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Much of New Zealand's precipitation is modulated by windflow, over its orography. Rain-gauge networks are normally sparse, and because measurement programmes are relatively expensive, there are considerablebenefits in modelling and mapping spatial patterns of precipitation in order to provide information at sites where no data exists. In this paper a simple, numerically robust diagnostic model (VDEL) for estimating orographic precipitation is used to estimate annual precipitation normals for a mountainous region of the southern North Island, New Zealand . The VDEL model, developed initially to analyse storm precipitation patterns, is based on the estimation of orographically forced vertical motion as V s -VZ s where VZ s is the height of the terrain and V s the low-level horizontal windflow upstream of the mountain range. Precipitation patterns were diagnosed by VDEL for four main windflow directions andcalibrated against annual precipitation normals by means of a multivariate regression mapping function. Areal average precipitation, mated from catchment runoffs, was reproduced with errors in the 5 to 10 per cent range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secure fixation of bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts is essential to allow early joint mobilization after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. This study was designed to evaluate four fixation methods of patellar tendon-bone grafts in cadaveric knees. Fifty-one fresh cadaveric patellar tendon-bone specimens were anchored in tibial or femoral metaphyseal bone tunnels. Group I grafts were fixed with Kurosaka interference screws. In Group II the grafts were initially fixed as in Group I, but the screws were then removed, the bone plugs repositioned, and the grafts resecured with screws. In Group III the grafts were anchored with three no. 2 nonabsorbable sutures tied over a screw and washer, whereas in Group IV no. 5 nonabsorbable sutures were used. Each bone specimen was mounted in the biomechanical testing machine, and a vertical tensile load was applied at a strain rate of 51 cm/min until failure of fixation, bone plug fracture, or tendon disruption occurred. The mean force to failure in Groups I, II, III, and IV were 435.0 N, 458.2 N, 454.2 N, and 415.8 N, respectively. There was no significant difference in the force to failure among the four methods of fixation. However, the modes of failure were diverse. In three specimens the Kurosaka screws diverged from the plugs and failed to achieve fixation. These specimens were excluded and will be discussed separately. Although technique-related difficulties may arise, interference screw fixation of patellar tendon-bone grafts affords strong graft fixation--often stronger than the graft itself. Secondary screw fixation appears to be equal in strength to primary screw fixation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)